The Cannington pitch and outfield was damp and slow but skipper
Sam Powell countered this by batting a yard out of his crease and lofting the
ball over the infield in some style. †Graham Fergusson eased along at the other
end until Powell (33 n.o.) retired and then Fergusson accelerated away.† When he too retired on 33 there was a brief
hiatus as Peter Weaver and Dave Sizer (1-26 both took wickets.† The respite did not last long as Will
Griffiths and John Bishop laid into the bowling with relish.† Bishopís innings of 34 (retired) was made
off 8 balls and contained an outrageous all-run 6.† After that even an excellent attacking
partnership between Griffiths (32 retired) and Harry Lee (33 retired) seemed
slightly tame.† Weaver (1-68) suffered
a frustrating match as the ball kept sailing just over deep midwicketís head
and then watched as Oliver Budd deposited his first and only ball from Chris
Cox (1-29) into the same fielderís hands.

The Councilís pursuit of their daunting target was
torpedoed almost before it had started as Oliver Buddís wrist spin accounted
for the first three batsmen for ducks.†
†Full tosses gained the first
two victims as Powell and Richard Budd took straightforward catches but the
third victim Matt Wilde was bowled by a beauty.† In contrast to this mayhem Dave Cook was
untroubled and played a number of handsome drives.† When Budd (3-17) finished his spell he was
replaced by Peter Reed (3-12) who took an instant liking to the bowling
conditions and grabbed three more wickets, the first of which was an
excellent catch by keeper Fergusson who was standing up to the wicket.† Cook retired with a well made 32 not out
and Powell (1-7) and Andrew Paisley (1-11) applied further pressure.† None of the other batsmen reached double
figures until Phil Barker (15 n.o.) played a stylish cameo in the gathering
gloom.